Strikers captain Head was closing in on a half-century after hitting a hat-trick of sixes off Plunkett when he mistimed a slower ball from the 33-year-old on 43 and was caught by Jackson Bird in the deep in the 13th over.

Plunkett, who earlier had opener Weatherald caught by wicketkeeper Seb Gotch off the opening ball of the fifth over, later removed Afghanistan international Khan and Strikers top-scorer Ingram in the space of three deliveries.

Khan had scored 13 when he was bowled by a full-toss, before Plunkett ended the resistance of South African Ingram by having him caught by Evan Gulbis at backward square for 57.

WICKET! Plunkett gets his 4th wicket of the night and this time dismisses the dangerous Colin Ingram. 😍 Evan Gulbis gobbles up the catch and the Strikers now 5-134.

Surrey player Plunkett was less successful with the bat, scoring four runs from six deliveries before a yorker from Michael Neser saw him become the seventh wicket to fall with the Stars 68 runs short of victory.

Neser, Liam O'Connor and Wes Agar each took two wickets for Adelaide, with team-mate Ben Laughlin claiming his third by dismissing Bird to leave Melbourne all out with four balls remaining and lift the Strikers to second place in the table.